Senior baseball action returns to the Port City on Saturday afternoon.
The Saint John Alpines host the defending league champion Charlottetown Islanders in a doubleheader.
Terre Hunter, the team’s general manager, said they are excited to get going again.
“The guys are really keen to get on the field. It’s been a long time since we could really go ahead and make plans and count on having a regular season,” Hunter said in an interview.
The 2020 New Brunswick Senior Baseball League season was cancelled due to COVID, and last year saw some restrictions at the start of the season.
In addition, the league was down two teams last year, with Chatham and Fredericton taking a one-year leave of absence. That left just Saint John, Moncton and Charlottetown.
“Chatham is back and there’s a new group that has taken on the franchise in Fredericton,” said Hunter.
Hunter said Saturday’s games will be the first for new head coach Jamie Richard. He takes over from Kevin Ferguson, who recently stepped aside after 12 years.
“He brings some new eyes, a new voice, and players have responded to that very well. He has different ways of doing things,” he said.
Saturday’s doubleheader at Memorial Field is slated to begin at 2 p.m.
Each team will play a 32-game schedule this season for the first time since 2019.
Game Day! Despite some rain in the forecast, todays games are on! 1st game of the double header starts @ 2pm.
Season Pass $75. Single game Admission $7, kids are free. @IslandersPEI #Alpines @DonnaReardonSJ @dondarlingSJ @MelnortonNB @kurtpeacock @Brentrjharris8 @GregNortonSJ pic.twitter.com/JUTVJS1SuX— Saint John Alpines (@SJAlpines) May 21, 2022
